Latest News From American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers

David Muth of Peoples Company Capital Markets, the Investment platform for Peoples Company, shares how institutional investors have reacted to higher interest rates on their land investments pursuits.

Prima Wawona, a stone fruit producer in Fresno, Calif., announced in October it filed for bankruptcy with more than $600 million in debt.

In October 2023, Arkansas became the first state to ban foreign-owned farmland. More states look to adopt similar laws, but one policy expert says the issue is rooted in politics and warns of unintended consequences.

North Dakota auction company announces new record-high land sale for cropland in the northeast corner of the state at $17,500 per acre, while in Iowa farmland sales are starting to cool off.

The results of the Realtors Land Institute - Iowa Chapter's September Land Trends and Values Survey show a decline in the rate of land value increase.

Fractal pairs farmers wanting to expand their operations with hands-off investors who recognize the value of farmland.

“If I were picking both from a financial and an emotional perspective, the next place I could put a dollar, I still would favor farmland pretty highly,” Bruce Sherrick says.

The Farmland Security Act of 2023 seeks to further boost transparency in foreign ownership of U.S. farmland.

Iowa State researchers find this is the state's highest level of farmland owned debt-free. In 1982, Iowa's debt-free land ownership was only 62%.

Paul Schadegg, with Farmers National Company, shares his perspective on agricultural real estate demand, the impact of interest rates on the market and the outlook for land values later this year.

The accelerated highs in 2022 don’t look to be hitting the brakes in the first quarter of 2023, according to Jim Rothermich, vice president of Iowa Appraisal.

This year marks the second-largest increase in the market value of agricultural land in Nebraska since 2014 and the highest non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the 45-year history of the survey. 

The rural economy seems to be set on cruise in neutral gear. That’s according to the Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) from Creighton University. 

For those in agriculture, owning farmland has long been viewed as a symbol of status and wealth. Now, even individuals who don’t farm are jumping on board, looking to buy farmland.

AgWeb is counting down the top 10 stories of the year. At No. 5, is the news of another record for farmland sales. In Sioux County, Iowa, 73.19 acres sold for $30,000 per acre at a Nov. 11 auction.

Clayton Becker has taken on a new role as president at Farmers National Company (FNC) since October 2021. He shares his outlook for the company, the role of farm managers, and the future of land values.

When adjusting for inflation, the 2022 average value surpassed the previous inflation-adjusted record set in 2013.

The 2022 Professional Farm Manager of the Year is Skye Root, which is a recognition from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers and sponsored by Syngenta with support from The Scoop.

A key financial ratio we watch at LandOwner Newsletter suggests the financial health of the agriculture sector is still strong and not overly leveraged.

Check out these impressive farmland sales from 2022.

Farmland sales continue to smash records. The latest is an Iowa land sale that came in at $30,000 per acre. Is it a trend or a one-time phenomenon?

Not to sound like a broken record, but we have another record for farmland sales. In Sioux County, Iowa, 73.19 acres of high-quality farmland sold for $30,000 per acre during an auction on Nov. 11.

The nearly 280 acres sold in two tracts on Oct. 27 for a total of $5.5 million.

Farmland is still going for record amounts. Just look at this recent sale in Iowa. In Plymouth County, Iowa, a new record was set to the tune of $26,250 per acre.

Acres platform provides comprehensive data to analyze value and productivity on 150 million parcels of land

House Republicans asked the General Accountability Office to conduct a study on U.S. lands owned by foreign entities. The letter was signed by scores of other House Republicans.

Overall, cash rent levels will likely increase across all land classes. But, they're less than the increases that happen between 2021 and 2022. 

The 'it looked good from the road' trend continued into western Iowa on Wednesday. In Illinois, scouts found a good crop, but maybe not the bumper crop they did last year.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s push to accelerate the fight against climate change is sparking a showdown with the nation’s farmers, who say it’s threatening food supplies and their profits.

A record Iowa land sale occurred in Dubuque County, Iowa last week with High Point Land Company saying it auctioned off 60 acres for $30,000 per acre. With financial stakes so high, who can afford these big money moves?

Land sales continue to set records. Late last month, a farm in Plymouth County, Iowa sold for $25,000 per acre.

The stronger land prices of late 2021 continued higher through the first half of 2022.

Is $20,000 the new $10,000 for farmland values?

Farmland sales continue to raise eyebrows and challenge—or set—records. Just look at these farmland sales results.

High prices cure high prices, but will that be the case with the record-breaking farmland prices seen in 2021 and early 2022?

The 2022 increase in values marks the largest increase state since 2014 and is the highest non-inflation-adjusted statewide land value in the history of the survey.

Farmland remains in a delicate supply-versus-demand balance.

U.S. farm real estate values are seeing a rapid rise in 2021, with the Western Corn Belt seeing values rise at a faster pace than the East, but the storyline could change, according to Jackson Takach of Farmer Mac.

In today’s challenging environment, farmland sale-leasebacks are becoming more common and potentially smart strategy for farmers.

The bull-run on Iowa farmland sales continues to play out in August. Less than two weeks after a farm ground sold for $19,000 per acre in Iowa, a new record sale was posted in Iowa Friday of $22,600 per acre.

How much does it cost to rent cropland this year? According to NASS, the average price is $141 per acre. That's $2 higher than last year, and up $7 from five years ago. 

This week Paul Neiffer has a conversation with Steve Bruere, president of Peoples Company. 

The Senior Vice President of Real Estate Operations for Farmers National Company reported during the first six month of its fiscal year, land sales were up 56% over the same time last year.

The start to 2021 is showing an increase in commodity prices. From fertilizer prices to seed prices, farm inputs are also on the rise, which could include the prices farmers may pay for cash rents next year. 

In recent years, publicity surrounding solar farms has gained the attention of property owners and appraisers. As with any large-scale development, the change represented by utility-scale solar can be cause for concern.

Understand how this option fits into a rental agreement.

“This is indicative of farmer interest and individual investor interest. We are starting to see prices we last saw between 2012 and 2014,” Dickhut says.

Key forces are converging to send farmland values higher — maybe even to historic levels.

He applies his skills with a focus on three areas: environmental sustainability, markets/profitability and communication. 

An Arizona ranch has sued the federal government claiming damages caused by the construction of the 30-foot-tall border wall between the United States and Mexico.